System and method of dynamically generating a frequency pattern to realize the sense of touch in a computing device

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for providing tactile feedback. A method for providing tactile feedback, comprises extracting a plurality of features from a visual representation of a physical object, wherein the extracting is performed using at least one image processing technique, generating a variable frequency pattern corresponding to the extracted features, sending the variable frequency pattern to a computing device, and generating the tactile feedback via the computing device in response to a stimulation applied by a user, wherein the tactile feedback is based on the variable frequency pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/738,005, filed on Dec. 17, 2012, the contents ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field generally relates to a system and method for providing thesense of touch in a computing device, and, in particular, to a systemand method for dynamically generating a frequency pattern to realize thesense of touch by leveraging vibration.

BACKGROUND

Online and mobile commerce has been increasing at a rapid pace from yearto year, especially with the increasing adoption of mobile devices, suchas, for example, smartphones and tablets. Using, for example, mobilephone or tablet applications, mobile web sites, or a combinationthereof, shoppers are able to use online stores or shopping sites tosearch for, compare, examine, and purchase items using their mobiledevices.

Using mobile devices to purchase goods permits a consumer to makepurchase decisions at any time and any place, at his or her convenience.However, shopping online or with a mobile device also prevents aconsumer from examining an article or physical object in person, notallowing the consumer to touch, feel, or try using the product, all ofwhich can presently only be done in a store or similar physical settingwhere both the product and purchaser are present.

In addition, when practicing remote or tele-medicine, a doctor remainsunable to feel a wound without being co-located with a patient.

Some of the restrictions of mobile and online commerce, or remotemedicine have been addressed. For example, high-resolution, full-colordisplays on higher end devices, and increasingly on mid- and lower-leveldevices, make it possible to present very realistic images of an item ormedical condition. Audio makes it possible to hear an object (forexample, an engine or a musical instrument), or to hear a salesassociate explaining an item. In addition, video makes it possible tosee an item in action, or being used.

Haptic technology, or haptics, permits a user to receive tactilefeedback to some degree through a device by applying forces, vibrations,and/or motions to the user. However, with current technology, the mobileand online consumer, or remote doctor still remains unable to accuratelyfeel or simulate the feeling of touching a wound, scar, or a desiredproduct, such as an article of clothing, when making a purchase.

SUMMARY

In general, exemplary embodiments of the invention include a system andmethod for providing the sense of touch in a computing device, and, inparticular, to a system and method for dynamically generating afrequency pattern to realize the sense of touch by leveraging vibration.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a systemfor providing tactile feedback comprises an image processing modulecapable of extracting a plurality of features from a visualrepresentation of a physical object, wherein the extracting is performedusing at least one image processing technique, and a frequencygeneration module capable of generating a variable frequency patterncorresponding to the extracted features, and sending the variablefrequency pattern to a computing device, wherein the computing devicegenerates the tactile feedback in response to a stimulation applied by auser, and the tactile feedback is based on the variable frequencypattern.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor providing tactile feedback comprises extracting a plurality offeatures from a visual representation of a physical object, wherein theextracting is performed using at least one image processing technique,generating a variable frequency pattern corresponding to the extractedfeatures, sending the variable frequency pattern to a computing device,and generating the tactile feedback via the computing device in responseto a stimulation applied by a user, wherein the tactile feedback isbased on the variable frequency pattern.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anarticle of manufacture comprises a computer readable storage mediumcomprising program code tangibly embodied thereon, which when executedby a computer, performs method steps for providing tactile feedback, themethod steps comprising extracting a plurality of features from a visualrepresentation of a physical object, wherein the extracting is performedusing at least one image processing technique, generating a variablefrequency pattern corresponding to the extracted features, sending thevariable frequency pattern to a computing device, and generating thetactile feedback via the computing device in response to a stimulationapplied by a user, wherein the tactile feedback is based on the variablefrequency pattern.

These and other exemplary embodiments of the invention will be describedor become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described belowin more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method for providing tactilefeedback according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C are block diagrams illustrating image processing andfrequency generation in a method for providing tactile feedbackaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a high-level block diagram illustrating a system for providingtactile feedback according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer system in accordance with which one ormore components/steps of the techniques of the invention may beimplemented, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be discussed in furtherdetail with regard to a system and method for providing the sense oftouch in a computing device, and, in particular, to a system and methodfor dynamically generating a frequency pattern to realize the sense oftouch by leveraging vibration. This invention may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein.

The embodiments of the present invention describe devices, systems andmethods through which computers and mobile devices, such as, forexample, smartphones and tablets, can be improved to transmit realistichaptic feelings to users. While some of the embodiments of the presentinvention are described in connection with mobile devices and commerce,the embodiments of the invention are not necessarily limited thereto.For example, the haptic accessory discussed herein can be applied toother types of computing devices, such as, for example, desktop andlaptop computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), and can beapplied to other fields, such as, for example, the medical field. In thecase of the medical field, a doctor located remotely from a patient maybe able to use the devices, systems and methods of the embodiments ofthe present invention to examine patients and simulate feeling ofpatients' wounds or scars while not being physically present with thepatient. It is to be understood that embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to the retail and healthcare fields.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods todynamically generate frequency patterns to help realize the sense oftouch remotely in mobile or other computing devices by leveragingvibration to feel, for example, the texture of merchandise (e.g., senseof touch for cloth or leather, etc.) or the nature of a wound for agiven patient who is remotely located from a physician by leveragingvibration capabilities of the mobile or other computing device. As aresult, retail stores can provide a better shopping experience to theircustomers by allowing consumers to shop from any part of the worldwithout being physically present in the store, attract more customers toshop from their online retail store, and enhance mobile subscribers'experiences by enabling them to feel the merchandise. In addition,patients can be provided with remote treatments in a tele-medicine typeof a scenario.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods fordynamically generating frequency patterns for any of the given objectsconsidering, for example, such attributes as texture, temperature,softness/hardness, stiffness, moisture content, swelling, color, size,etc. by applying the techniques such as Digital Image Processing (DIP).

Referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates a method for providing tactilefeedback to a user, according to an embodiment of the present invention,a customer/mobile subscriber navigates to an online commerce site topurchase an item, e.g., a shirt (block 102). After browsing an onlinecatalog, the customer selects the item, e.g., the shirt, for furtherviewing and information (block 104). The selection may yield a visualrepresentation of the product, which can include and image and/or videothat is displayed for the user. As an alternative, an individual may bein a store, or next to a patient to be examined, take a picture of aproduct in the store, or a part of the body of the patient to beexamined using a camera, for example, on a mobile device, and send thetaken picture to a user in the place of the customer/mobile subscriberdescribed above.

Online commerce sites may allow a customer to click on details of anitem to receive further information about the product. For example, inthe case of an apparel item, a customer may receive the following data:size, color, availability, price, store location, picture of the item,shipping time, etc., which is sent to the mobile or other computingdevice as metadata. In accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention, one or more features of the product (e.g., texture,temperature, softness/hardness, stiffness, moisture content, swelling,color, size, etc.) are extracted from a visual representation of theproduct using, for example, digital image processing (DIP), digitalimage capture (DIC) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques(block 106). The visual representation (e.g. image) is physicallysegmented into portions (block 108), and based on the extractedfeatures, a frequency pattern is mapped for each of the segments (block110), which can vary based on the differences between the extractedfeatures at each segment. In an alternative embodiment, a frequencypattern can be generated from an image file associated with the subjectitem and/or a description of the subject item. The frequency pattern issent to the mobile device or other computing device as metadata (block112). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the extractedfeatures and segmentation result in time-varying data values (e.g. inthe form of a varying frequency pattern) associated with each physicalhaptic property of the product. The frequency pattern metadata is notvisible to the user of the mobile or other computing device, but isprocessed by the mobile or other computing device (block 114), through,for example, an application, and transmitted to, for example, avibration producing component of the mobile or other computing devicecapable of receiving variable frequency patterns (block 116) to providethe necessary tactile feedback when the user interacts with the mobileor computing device (block 118). According to an embodiment, the mobileor other computing device responds to pressure applied thereto by, forexample, the finger of a user. In accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention, a customer can touch a screen at the point of displayof the product or other portion of the mobile or other computing deviceto feel a texture of the product. As a non-limiting example, used solelyfor purposes of illustration and not limitation, embodiments of thepresent invention may be used in conjunction with and/or applied to theembodiments disclosed in the U.S. Patent Application concurrently filedunder Attorney Docket No. YOR920130136US1, which is assigned toInternational Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y., USA, andtitled “Haptic Accessory And Methods For Using Same”, the completedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

The pattern and amount of tactile feedback is a time-varying function ofthe time-varying data such that the pattern and amount of tactilefeedback can be sufficient to identify the physical object. For example,the tactile feedback may have a multi-dimensional time varying patternof vibration, such as, for example, a two-dimensional time-varyingpattern of vibration. The mobile or other computing device converts thereceived variable frequency pattern to vibratory motion.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, steps 106, 108, 110 and 112 describedin connection with FIG. 1 are described in more detail in connectionwith a scenario where an image of a wound/medical condition is capturedby a patient using a mobile device. For example, referring to block 202,a patient who desires to show his wound to a physician remote from thepatient takes a picture of the wound using a mobile device, and sendsthe image 208 via, for example, a network, to a remote server, forexample, an online application server. As shown in FIG. 3, the remoteserver includes retrieval module 302 having an image processing module304 and a frequency generation module 306. According to an embodiment,the frequency generation module 306 can be a dynamic frequency patterngenerator.

Referring to blocks 204, 206, 208 210, as per step 106, one or morefeatures of the wound (e.g., texture, temperature, softness/hardness,stiffness, moisture content, swelling, color, size, etc.) are extractedfrom the visual representation of the wound 208 by the image processingmodule 304 using, for example, DIP, DIC and/or MRI techniques. As perstep 108, referring to the diagram at 212, using image processingtechniques, the visual representation (e.g. image) 208 is physicallysegmented into portions based on location. For example, viewing fromleft to right, the image of the chin wound 208 is segmented into thirdsI, II and III.

Referring to diagram 212 and Table 1 set forth below, as per block 110,the frequency generation module 306 maps a frequency pattern 213corresponding to each of the extracted features for each of the segmentsI, II and III. In the diagram 212, the numbers 1-6 correspond to thenumbers given to the attribute in Table 1.

Weight- Attribute Range age 1. Soft Softness (0.1) ←---→Hardness (1) 0.52. Colour Pale Yellow (0.1) ←---→ Red (1) 0.3 3. Part of the Head (0.1)←---→ Toe (1) 0.3 body 4. Moisture Wet (0.1) ←---→ Dry (1) 0.2 5.Texture Smooth (0.1) ←---→ Rough (1) 0.5 6. Temperature Cold (0.1) ←---→Warm (0.5) ←---→ Hot (1) 0.3

Referring to Table 1, which depicts a mapping of attributes to values,attributes such as softness/hardness, color, location on body, moisture,texture and temperature, are assigned values within a range of 0.1 to 1corresponding to their actual characteristics. For example, softer,yellower, wetter, smoother and colder portions and portions closer tothe head are assigned values nearer to 0.1, and portions that areharder, redder, dryer, rougher, hotter, and closer to the toes areassigned values nearer to 1. As described further below, the values ofthe attributes can differ depending on the segment. In other words,attributes or features of the item may vary at different portions of theitem and the corresponding visual representation of the item. Inaddition, each attribute is given a weight based on an importance inconnection with accurately identifying and presenting the hapticfeatures of the particular item. The attribute and weight values can beuser-defined, dynamically learned through, for example, learningalgorithms based on use and results (e.g., using historical data, priorknowledge about how tactile feedback has been presented in connectionwith a particular item type), and/or a combination thereof. Referring toFIG. 2C, the frequency generation module 306 takes the processedattributes for segments I, II and III 214 a, b, c, and referring toblock 216, determines the weightage for each of the attributes,calculates the frequency value at each segment I, II and III using thevalues of the attributes at each segment appropriately modified by theirweightages, and maps the frequency pattern 213 for each of the segmentvalues. Frequency pattern persistence 217 referenced in the FIG. 2C is apersistent mechanism, for example, a database where the generatedfrequency pattern is stored so that it can be used for pattern learningprocesses.

As can be seen, the frequency pattern 213 varies based on thedifferences between the extracted features at each segment. For example,referring to diagram 212, in segment II, values for elements of thewound, such as, for example, color, hardness and texture, are differentfrom those values in segments I and III. Accordingly, the mappedfrequency at segment II is different from the mapped frequency atsegments I and III. As per block 112, the frequency pattern 213 is sentto the mobile device 310 or other computing device via network 308 asmetadata.

Referring to FIG. 3, a system 300 for providing tactile feedback to auser, according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes aretrieval module 302, including the image processing module 304, whichextracts one or more features representing characteristics of theproduct or wound (e.g., texture, temperature, softness/hardness,stiffness, moisture content, swelling, color, size, etc.) from a visualrepresentation of an item (e.g., a consumer product or medicalcondition, such as a wound), and physically segments the visualrepresentation (e.g. image) into portions. The visual representation canbe derived from, for example, an online commerce site product offering,or a taken picture of a product or a part of the body of a patient thatis uploaded to the retrieval module 302 and sent to a user of the mobiledevice 310.

The retrieval module 302 also includes a frequency generation module306, which, based on the extracted features, maps a frequency patterncorresponding to each of the segments. The retrieval module 302 sendsthe frequency pattern to the mobile device 310 or other computing deviceas meta data, and sends the visual representation to the mobile device310. According to an embodiment, the retrieval module 302 is located ata remote server, such as an online application server, accessible via anetwork.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the extraction andsegmentation is performed using DIP, digital image capture (DIC) and/ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the mapping is performed by a dynamicfrequency generator. The mapped variable frequency pattern includestime-varying data values associated with each physical haptic propertyof the product. The frequency pattern meta data is sent to the mobiledevice 310 via a network 308, such as a local area network (LAN), widearea network (WAN), cellular network, satellite network or the Internet,and is processed by a frequency processing module 312 which iselectrically connected to and/or incorporated into the mobile device310. According to embodiments, communication between the retrievalmodule 302 and the mobile device 310 can be via, for example, multimediamessaging and/or based on Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH, GSM/CDMA, 2G, 3G, 4G, etc.technologies. Based on the frequency pattern received from the frequencygeneration module 306, the mobile device 310 or other computing deviceis able to generate the appropriate wave-like vibration patterns and/orcontrol temperature so that the mobile device 310 or other computingdevice provides the necessary tactile feedback when the user interactswith the mobile device 310 or other computing device, or an accessoryelectrically connected to thereto. According to an embodiment, thewave-like vibration pattern corresponds to the frequency of each segmentso that a user is able to feel the differences in the attributes at eachrespective portion of the item.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, apparatus, method, or computerprogram product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may takethe form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) oran embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIGS. 1, 2A-2C and 3 illustrate the architecture, functionality, andoperation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computerprogram products according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or a block diagrammay represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises oneor more executable instructions for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagram and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagram and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

One or more embodiments can make use of software running on ageneral-purpose computer or workstation. With reference to FIG. 4, in acomputing node 410 there is a computer system/server 412, which isoperational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 412 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 412 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 412 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 4, computer system/server 412 in computing node 410 isshown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The componentsof computer system/server 412 may include, but are not limited to, oneor more processors or processing units 416, a system memory 428, and abus 418 that couples various system components including system memory428 to processor 416.

The bus 418 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

The computer system/server 412 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 412, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

The system memory 428 can include computer system readable media in theform of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 430 and/orcache memory 432. The computer system/server 412 may further includeother removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer systemstorage media. By way of example only, storage system 434 can beprovided for reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatilemagnetic media (not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Althoughnot shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to aremovable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and anoptical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable,non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other opticalmedia can be provided. In such instances, each can be connected to thebus 418 by one or more data media interfaces. As depicted and describedherein, the memory 428 may include at least one program product having aset (e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to carryout the functions of embodiments of the invention. A program/utility440, having a set (at least one) of program modules 442, may be storedin memory 428 by way of example, and not limitation, as well as anoperating system, one or more application programs, other programmodules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, and program data or somecombination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 442 generally carry out the functionsand/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention as describedherein.

Computer system/server 412 may also communicate with one or moreexternal devices 414 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display424, etc., one or more devices that enable a user to interact withcomputer system/server 412, and/or any devices (e.g., network card,modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 412 to communicate withone or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur viaInput/Output (I/O) interfaces 422. Still yet, computer system/server 412can communicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 420. As depicted, network adapter 420communicates with the other components of computer system/server 412 viabus 418. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 412. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may bemade by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention.

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. A method for providing tactile feedback,comprising: extracting a plurality of features from a visualrepresentation of a physical object, wherein the extracting is performedusing at least one image processing technique; generating a variablefrequency pattern corresponding to the extracted features; sending thevariable frequency pattern to a computing device; and generating thetactile feedback via the computing device in response to a stimulationapplied by a user, wherein the tactile feedback is based on the variablefrequency pattern.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:assigning values within a range for each of the plurality of features;and weighting the values.
 12. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: segmenting the visual representation into a plurality ofportions; and calculating a frequency value for each of the plurality ofportions based on the weighted values.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising: mapping the variable frequency pattern for eachfrequency value of the plurality of portions.
 14. The method of claim10, wherein the variable frequency pattern is sent to the computingdevice as meta data.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the tactilefeedback comprises a vibration corresponding to the variable frequencypattern.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the extracted featurescomprise at least one of texture, temperature, softness/hardness,moisture content, color and size.
 17. The method of claim 10, whereinthe computing device is a mobile device.
 18. The method of claim 10,wherein the tactile feedback includes a multi-dimensional time-varyingpattern of vibration.
 19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:segmenting the visual representation into a plurality of portions;calculating a frequency value for each of the plurality of portionscorresponding to the extracted features; and mapping the variablefrequency pattern for each frequency value of the plurality of portions.20. (canceled)